Justin Maxwell, winner of the Cape Cod Baseball League's Manny Rebello 10th Player Award in 2003, has signed to return to the Cotuit Kettleers this summer.

Kets General Manager Bruce Murphy announced this week that the University of Maryland outfielder will suit up for Cotuit again this summer - unless professional baseball lures him away.

"We're real excited with him coming back," Murphy said. "He's such a great leader, plus he's so talented."

The Kets also have signed San Jacinto (Texas) College closer Steve Merek, who Murphy said has been offered a full scholarship to transfer next year to perennially powerful University of Texas.

Maxwell won the '03 Rebello Award for his play with the Bourne Braves, hitting .307, seventh in the league, as the Braves finished atop the Western Division before losing the championship to Orleans. That followed a breakout sophomore season at Maryland, when he hit .317 with 10 home runs, 43 RBI and 11 stolen bases.

Since then, the injury bug has bitten Maxwell three times, first when a fractured bone in his right wrist cost him the entire spring 2004 college season. He was drafted in the 10th round by the Texas Rangers last year, but opted for a summer with the Kets and another season with the Terrapins, both of which were cut short by injuries.

He played in 17 games for Cotuit last year before a broken bone in his right hand cost him the rest of the season. He was hitting .263 with a home run, four doubles and nine stolen bases in 13 attempts.

He got off to a blistering start at Maryland this season, hitting .455 (10-for-22) with two doubles, three homers - still second best on the team - and a stratospheric .955 slugging percentage through seven games before breaking a bone in his left hand while working out in the batting cage last month. He is expected to miss the rest of the Terrapins' regular season, according to Dustin Hockensmith of the Maryland Athletic Department's Media Information office, but may be ready for Atlantic Coast Conference tournament May 24-29. At 6 feet, 5 inches and 225 pounds, Maxwell seems an unlikely base stealer, but the numbers speak for themselves. He was 5-for-5 in that department this season before being injured.

Murphy said pro scouts are very high on Merek, a 6'2", 200-pound right-hander. A summer in Cotuit will serve as good preparation for the move from junior college ball to one of the premier Div. 1 programs in the nation - though Merek also could turn pro this year, Murphy said.

"You have to take a couple of chances," Murphy said about signing players who might turn pro this season.